Drunk driving is one of the most serious offenses that a person can commit. Getting charged with DUI can have major implications to the defendant. Aside from facing prison sentence, conviction could also lead to the suspension of their license as well as their driving privileges for a certain period of time. They may also be required to pay huge fines.

There are different types of DUI that an individual can commit. Depending on the type, the punishment may also vary. Everything will all depend on the facts and circumstances of the case. The charge will be dependent on various factors which include previous DUI convictions, level of BAC, death or injury, and property damage. Here now are the different types of DUI:

First Offense DUI

First offense DUI is a Class 1 misdemeanor that carries serious consequences. Depending on the state where the act was committed, the defendant may be subjected to a jail sentence as well as pay a certain amount as fine. It may also result to the revocation of your license or suspension of driving privileges.

2nd Offense DUI

The penalties handed down during your 1st offense will be enhanced if you commit a second offense. The charges will carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 45 days in prison. Your driver’s license will be suspended for 2 years. Depending on circumstances, your vehicle may even be forfeited.

3rd Offense DUI

For a third offense, the jail sentence will be increased to 120 days. Aside from that, you could end up paying heftier fines which could be up to $10,000. The revocation of your license can also increase to 6 to 10 years.

4th and Subsequent Offense DUI

Fourth time DUI offense will be elevated as a Class E felony and may subject the defendant to a mandatory minimum sentence of one year in a state prison. The courts will also revoke your license for a period of 8 years.

When facing criminal charges such as DUI, you need the help of an experienced attorney to defend you in court. Their experience can help make a difference in your case.

Some people may not be aware of the dangers of tailgating. Tailgating is a form of aggressive driving, where another driver is driving too close to the car in front of him. More often than not, tailgating drivers use this maneuver to express their impatience and frustration to the driver in front of them. Although it may seem harmless, in many occasions tailgating has lead to many rear-end accidents and often lead to road rage and retaliation incidents.

Experienced drivers do tailgating because of the technique called drafting. Drafting is often used in car racing because during drafting, there is less or no wind resistance to the car doing the tailgating because the one in front is taking it all, therefore making it easier to overtake to the front. For inexperienced drivers, these situations can cause severe accidents because it lowers the reaction time for any sudden changes. Another thing to lookout for during tailgating is turning into corners. Tailgating to another vehicle while turning corners is just an ego boost to many.

To know if you are tailgating, try practicing the “three second rule”; making sure that you have enough time to react to any sudden changes from the driver in front. Human’s reaction to danger takes about one to four seconds, therefore having enough space ensures that you can safely drive next to another driver and prevent any accidents that may happen on the road. Also, poor driving conditions can increase the chances of road accidents.

Penalties for tailgating can vary depending on each state law, but it often includes fines and demerits in accordance to how dangerous you were driving. Tailgating is prohibited, and is a negligent act that goes against road safety. Those who do these kinds of acts are punishable by the law.

Helping maintain road safety for other motorists and pedestrians is the moral and legal obligation of all drivers all across the United States. This is why all US states make sure that those who apply for a driving license first undergo a driving education and driving test where they can learn all traffic rules and observe them. Additionally, most states require drivers to purchase auto insurance as a way to settle differences that arise when accidents occur. According to the website of Habush Habush & Rottier S.C. ®, even people who have been denied coverage must receive a special proof of financial responsibility. It is a surprise to know, therefore, why the yearly number of car accidents continues to remain above five million, leaving about two million severely injured and more than 30,000 dead (2012 record shows 34,080 fatalities).

Any failure on anyone’s part can spell road disaster that may result to a severe injury or death of any motorist or pedestrian. One person running a red light, not checking their mirror, or not looking at the road for a moment too long can easily cause a dramatic car accident, serious injuries, or even fatalities.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a division of the Department of Transportation which was established by the Highway Safety Act of 1970, is tasked with the mission to, “Save lives, prevent injuries, reduce vehicle-related crashes.” In promoting this campaign, it has launched different programs, like the Child Passenger Safety Week, the Drunk Driving National Enforcement Crackdown and fast receipt of Recall alerts through Apple devices.

Four of the top causes of car accidents, according to NHTSA, are drunk-driving, speeding, reckless driving and driver error. Though these are all drivers’ faults, there are still accidents that may be blamed on factors that lie outside the drivers’ control, such as road defects and poorly manufactured car/vehicle parts.

One type of accident that always results to a high turnout in fatalities is rollover accident. Any car can be subjected to this type of road mishap, though SUVs and vans are known to be more susceptible to it due to the vehicle’s center of gravity being farther or higher from the ground.

To make SUVs safe the static stability factor (SSF) and the electronic stability control system (ESC) which will give drivers greater control of the vehicle have been introduced by manufacturers. While the static stability factor (SSF) makes the vehicle more stable, the ESC keeps the driver from losing control of the vehicle (when it skids), by automatically applying a brake on each wheel.

Rollovers are considered more dangerous than other road accidents since these either result to severe injuries or death. The US registers about 10,000 deaths every year due to rollovers; in terms of injuries, victims can suffer from fractures, contusions, concussions, brain injuries or spinal injuries.

Though rollover accidents are frequently due to reckless lane changes and aggressive, high-speed driving, manufacturers still have a lot to answer for when these occur. The fact that SUVs have been made available on the market, consumers would naturally put their trust in the manufacturer and believe that their cars are constructed safely.

In the event that a vehicle’s design is flawed or defective, its manufacturer can be held liable for any injuries that may arise as a result of the defect. Legally speaking, it would have to pay the victims all present and future damages they will suffer from these injuries. This can be quite costly, so automakers try to do everything within their power to build safe cars. However, occasionally problems slip through the cracks and defective designs that are prone to rolling over are released. If you’re hurt as a result of a badly designed car, you may be able to contact Habush Habush & Rottier S.C.® to help you recover the costs of your medical treatment and other damages.